May 3, 2021
"Certainty, you say. That’s an interesting choice of words."
"Your Highness also needs certainty about me, does he not?"
"I can’t say for sure, but at the very least, I know that the High Priest wishes for me to ascend the throne. That way, the beliefs upheld by the Imperial Family and the Temple can be restored."
Cabelenus slowly traced the corner of his eye with his fingertip. His golden irises gleamed beneath his touch.
"Unfortunately, restoring lost faith is never an easy task. You know this already. His Majesty—no, that fraud—has survived, and because of it, the Imperial Family has become the subject of ridicule."
"......."
"Everyone claims to be worried about the Imperial Family now that its golden eyes are gone, but in truth, they doubt its legitimacy. Yet, none of them have dared act on that doubt."
Because Your Highness is here. Hermann’s grip on Cabelenus’s hand tightened.
"If they were to discover that even Your Highness’s bloodline has been tainted, their resentment toward the Imperial Family would only deepen."
"......And what exactly do you expect me to do about that?"
"Hand the child over to me."
For a moment, Cabelenus’s expression turned to ice. But Hermann did not stop speaking.
"I understand why Your Highness took in the boy. That alone tells me how you feel. But there are things in this world that cannot be resolved with mere sentiment. You know that, don’t you?"
"You claim to be on my side, yet your actions say otherwise."
"I say this for Your Highness’s sake."
"......."
Abandoning a child barely big enough to fill his arms—was that truly supposed to be for his sake? Cabelenus swallowed back the words that threatened to spill from his throat. No matter how much his insides roiled, raising his voice now would accomplish nothing. Hermann saw Mikael as nothing more than a tool.
"Do not worry too much. I have no intention of harming the child."
"And how am I supposed to believe that?"
Cabelenus muttered, pressing his fingers against his forehead. His breath burned as it rose from his chest.
"If you entrust him to me, I will raise him as the next High Priest."
"The High Priest?"
"The boy possesses a unique power, does he not? It is only right that he be given a role befitting that power."
"You say that knowing exactly what kind of power he holds?"
"Opposites are merely strengths and weaknesses reversed. In other words, if both can be harnessed together, the result is perfection."
Cabelenus did not smile, but Hermann did.
"That fraud may believe he has made me uneasy, but in truth, I do not trouble myself over such trivial matters. After all, I understand better than anyone that great sacrifices are necessary for great ambitions."
"......Are you saying you only pretended to be anxious?"
"If the fraud is young and cunning, then I have time and experience. I have served three emperors, and in doing so, I have seen many things."
Hermann leisurely stroked his beard. The recklessness of youth never lasted long. The brighter a flame burned, the quicker it was extinguished.
"Your Highness has a woman he cares for, doesn’t he?"
"It seems the High Priest is quite interested in my private affairs."
"If Your Highness gives up the child, I will ensure that no one troubles her ever again."
"Oh? Will you even grant her the Empress’s throne?"
"If that is what you wish."
"......You are revealing too many of your cards, High Priest."
Cabelenus’s jaw tensed. Hermann was openly displaying his desire for Mikael, despite knowing that doing so would raise suspicions. And there was only one reason for that—he was determined to have the boy, no matter what.
"I am on Your Highness’s side, and more than anything, I trust that Your Highness will make the right choice."
"The right choice?"
A rough breath escaped between Cabelenus’s clenched teeth.
"Only gods can have everything. Humans must always make choices."
"......."
"Think carefully. A woman can be lost, but a child is different. You can always have another. And, of course, another child with black hair and golden eyes."
"......Do you truly believe I will comply with your demands?"
"If not now, then eventually."
Deep wrinkles formed around Hermann’s eyes. He didn’t need to resort to elaborate threats. Cabelenus knew exactly how Jerpeneus’s birth mother had died.
"Even the most insignificant rumors, when stacked upon each other, become something undeniable. And accumulated doubt always leads to distrust. After all, truth is simply whatever the majority chooses to believe."
"......."
"But do you know what the most interesting part is? Even the person at the center of the rumors can be consumed by them. If enough people insist something is true, even the accused may come to believe it themselves."
I have killed hundreds that way. Hermann tilted his chin up, the light catching in his eyes like a serpent about to strike its prey.
"The story of the red-haired witch may have failed, but there’s no guarantee the next one will."
"......."
"You don’t have to answer now, but don’t make me wait too long. This old man doesn’t have much time left."
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
Hermann once again offered a benevolent smile and bowed his head.
***
‘That cunning old man.’
Cabelenus quickened his pace, his lips twisting in irritation. He had no doubt now—Hermann’s greed for Mikael was far from trivial. There was no time to waste. He had to finish investigating Prime as soon as possible and prepare for the next battle.
For now, everyone was after Mikael, but that was only because of his supposed ability to control monsters. The moment they discovered Mikael had no such power, they wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate him. If Mikael was taken even once, it would be over.
Grinding his teeth, Cabelenus came to a halt.
Before him stood the towering statue of Prime, the sacred symbol of the temple.
‘This isn’t it either.’
The statue, depicted with a grand sword held in both hands and its head raised high, represented the great deity everyone revered. But for all its magnificence, there was no trace of power emanating from it.
‘If there was something to sense, I would have felt it long ago.’
Cabelenus scowled. He had seen this statue since childhood. It wasn’t his first time in the temple either. # Nоvеlight # If there had been any hidden power within the statue, he would have noticed it years ago.
And yet, despite knowing this, he couldn’t bring himself to leave.
Because if the temple wasn’t the answer, then there was nowhere left to look.
After confirming that no one was around, Cabelenus retrieved a small pouch from inside his coat. Inside the tightly sealed pouch was a tiny glass vial filled with dark red liquid.
‘If this doesn’t work, I’ll have to search that old man’s vault.’
As soon as he unsealed the vial, a familiar scent filled his nostrils. He tilted the vial slightly, letting a few drops of blood fall to the ground.
It was only a few drops, but his heightened senses picked up the scent instantly.
The smell of blood was nothing new to him. But this was different. Unlike the metallic tang of aged iron, this scent was strangely sweet.
Because it carried Alicia’s scent.
‘Let’s see if the bait takes.’
For monsters, Alicia’s scent was irresistible. If Prime was anywhere nearby, it would not be able to resist its pull.
***
"Did you enjoy toying with me, God’s Representative?"
"I never deceived Your Majesty!"
"You involved Roakin, of all people, and yet you claim you weren’t deceiving me?"
Jerpeneus ground his teeth in fury. He could tolerate many things, but being tied to Roakin was unforgivable.
"Don’t you remember? It was Your Majesty who summoned me here, despite my initial refusals."
"And that refusal wasn’t just another trick?"
"Your Majesty should know better than anyone. You had me investigated thoroughly, didn’t you?"
"Yes. And from what I found, you were perfectly clean. Too clean, in fact. And you know what they say—when someone looks too innocent, that in itself is suspicious."
At Jerpeneus’s signal, Peltion stepped forward, leveling his sword at James.
James instinctively backed up until he hit the cold stone wall, his body tensing. There was nowhere left to run.
"Have you forgotten? I’m already on the same ship as Your Majesty!"
"The same ship?"
"If not for me, Your Majesty wouldn’t have been able to stabilize your wavering authority!"
James clenched his fists behind his back. Jerpeneus’s wrath terrified him, but he had expected this. Everything had unfolded exactly as Fenril had predicted.
If he followed Fenril’s instructions, he would survive this ordeal as well.
"So what? You think you can flaunt that in front of me?"
Jerpeneus’s expression darkened further.
"I am merely reminding Your Majesty that, whether you like it or not, you cannot afford to discard me."
James forced a smile, though it was stiff. Jerpeneus stared at him for a long moment before finally raising his hand.
Annoying as it was, James was right. This wasn’t some childish game—he couldn’t just replace the so-called ‘God’s Representative’ on a whim. No matter how infuriating, he still needed James for now.
"...Fine. Since we’re stuck in this mess together, I’ll let this slide just this once. But there won’t be a next time."
"Of course."
James quickly nodded.
Peltion withdrew his sword, but James’s face remained pale.
Jerpeneus folded his arms, observing James’s ghostly complexion.
‘It really doesn’t make sense.’
Perhaps because he had lived as an artist, Jerpeneus found James’s reactions baffling. The man was easily startled, visibly fearful, and lacked the composure one would expect of someone with power.
By all accounts, he was not the type to handle pressure well.
And yet, despite his obvious lack of courage, James never failed to say exactly the right thing at the critical moment.
‘He doesn’t seem particularly intelligent, either.’
Jerpeneus thought back to how James had thrown himself into the role of nobility.
It had only taken a few fancy banquets for him to start acting like an aristocrat. The way he carried himself, the way he feigned an air of self-importance—it was all so cliché.
In every way, he seemed like just another fool caught up in a delusion of grandeur.
And yet, there was something off.
‘There are only two possibilities. Either his act is so flawless that even I’m fooled...’
Or someone was guiding him from behind the scenes.
Jerpeneus slipped his hand into his pocket, his thoughts turning to his half-brother.
He prided himself on knowing Cabelenus better than anyone.
And this... this was not Cabelenus’s style.
His brother had no use for fools. He wouldn’t waste his time manipulating someone like James.
But no matter how hard he tried, Jerpeneus couldn’t think of any other suspect who could have orchestrated this.
The only person left standing in the shadows of this mess was Hermann.
And if that was the case, then Cabelenus was the only one who stood to gain.
Jerpeneus exhaled slowly.
If he wanted certainty, he would have to keep James close for a while longer.
